Va. Dna Lab The Nucleus Of New World Of Forensics

April 17, 1991|By BOB KEMPER Staff Writer

RICHMOND — Four years ago, Paul Ferrara wanted to use genetic information stored in the cells of criminals' bodies to put criminals in prison cells.

It was a desire that led to the creation of the nation's first state-run DNA testing laboratory. But it also has led Ferrara, director of the state's division of forensic science, down a road of inadequate lab space, dwindling funds, court challenges and, finally, an anonymous good Samaritan.

On Tuesday, Ferrara told the State Crime Commission that the DNA lab is back on schedule to develop the nation's first DNA data bank, which will catalog genetic information from convicted criminals in hopes of solving crimes.

``The prospects are very good,'' Ferrara said after a presentation to the commission. ``We've overcome the worst part in terms of the space, the people and the money.

``We've overcome some obstacles and hurdles, and we're going to have more,'' he said. ``But we're very optimistic in the lab because things are starting to fall into place.''

In September, the DNA lab will move to new, more spacious quarters in Richmond, giving it room to expand.

A shortage of money for the program last year was offset by an anonymous donor, who was so protective of her identity that she called Ferrara from public pay phones and had him write to her in care of a post office box.

``The only thing I know about her is that she has an interest in forensic science,'' Ferrara said of the woman, who sent checks for $150,000 when she heard the program needed money. ``I don't even have any idea of motive.''

In the legal arena, the DNA lab last month prevailed in a class-action suit brought by inmates who said the state had no right to take blood samples from them, analyze and store the genetic information in a DNA data bank. The attorney general's office, which defended the lab, said it was the first such case in the nation.

By June 1992, blood samples from 2,000 to 3,000 known sex offenders will be cataloged in the data bank.

And that's just a start for the lab, which is already storing 24,000 blood samples that it hopes eventually to analyze and store.

Starting this fall, Virginia will be one of five states working on an FBI pilot program to coordinate DNA data banks around the country. The program would allow states to check each other's data banks when they are searching for a suspect.

DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, is the basic genetic material found in each cell in the body. It is unique for every person, more so even than fingerprints.

The DNA lab confirms the identity of suspects by comparing information taken from body fluids - particularly semen and blood - at a crime scene and comparing it to the genetic information in suspects' cells.

The state lab has already processed 100 DNA cases. In 75 cases, where DNA testing showed that the suspect had a role in the crime, prosecutors got convictions, he said. Twenty-five people were cleared by the tests.

The General Assembly approved DNA testing for sex offenders in 1989, just over a year after Ferrara's proposal got the interest of House Speaker A.L. Philpott, a member of the crime commission. In 1990, the assembly agreed to extend the program to all felons.

So far, 13 states have used Virginia's law as a model for their own DNA legislation, which allows blood samples to be taken from prisoners while placing limits on the types of genetic analysis done to the samples and on the number of agencies with whom that information can be shared.